By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced this week that fire restrictions are in effect for all public lands managed by the bureau’s Mother Lode Field Office.

Included are approximately 230,000 acres of BLM-managed lands in El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Amador, Sacramento, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Sutter and Mariposa counties. Campers are urged to familiarize themselves with special restrictions before visiting public lands in these counties.

The restrictions prohibit all open fires on public lands because of extremely dry conditions, according to a news release.

A valid California campfire permit is required for all fires. Campfire permits may be obtained free of charge at any BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or California Department of Forestry Office.

Restrictions include:

• No open fires except in designated campgrounds. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized fuel are permitted.

• No welding or use of any torch with an open flame, except by special permit.

• No operating internal combustion engines, except on a maintained road.

• No firing tracers or incendiary devices capable of starting a fire.

• No fireworks.

Violations are punishable by fines of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. For additional information, call the BLM’s Mother Lode Field Office at (916) 941.3101.